Recently I found myself indulging in a bit of Old Hollywood Retrospectives via YouTube. I don’t recall the provider but the theme was Old Hollywood Romances. I’m a sucker for old time Hollywood. It really was a different place and time.
Anyway, I found myself not only learning a bit about some seriously gifted actors, but also discovering (or rediscovering) some classic films.
I know I’m not nearly as knowledgeable about many of these films but they piqued my interest for a couple of reasons. First, quite a few were films that I had either not known or forgotten that certain performers had been in them. Second, the subject matter, captured at a time before the sanitation of the various ratings systems, was often eye opening and thought provoking.
I was once again reminded that I really should spend some time to find what I could and sit back to watch.
With the passing of Angela Lansbury, I found myself amazed at her body of work. She was in films as early as her late teens. The mind boggles. I’ve been lucky enough to see clips of some of her work on Broadway, too. What an amazing performer! Her television work was also stellar. Consider taking on a job that required up to 20 hours a day and actually lasted for several years when you are in your 60s. Yeah, I can’t even begin to comprehend how she did it, and did it so well, too. Especially when she included some film work in the middle of the TV work.
I’ve long been a fan of what I think of as craftsman performers. They are the folks who step up, and into character, for a variety of projects. What I think separates them from the majority is that you forget who they are when they are performing a role. If they’ve done their job properly, you don’t think “Oh, that’s So-and-So from … ” They are few true craftsman performers, but lots of folks who step into a role and you rarely not think of the actor’s name as you watch.
If you are inclined, make a list of performers that capture your interest and look up their filmography. imdb.com is a great place to start. Put together a list of those projects you want to see and dive in. You might be surprised at what you can find.
Indulge in a movie night that isn’t the latest and loudest, but something a bit more classic.
Oh, and brace yourself. The ride you embark on could change the way you contemplate entertainment. 🙂
